Map of Nauru | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: The exact origins of the Nauruans are unclear since their language does not resemble any other in the Pacific region. Germany annexed the island in 1888. A German-British consortium began mining the island's phosphate deposits early in the 20th century. Australian forces occupied Nauru in World War I; it subsequently became a League of Nations mandate. After the Second World War - and a brutal occupation by Japan - Nauru became a UN trust territory. It achieved independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999 as the world's smallest independent republic.


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Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands

Geographic coordinates: 0 32 S, 166 55 E

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 21 km²
Land: 21 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 240
Comparative: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 30 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Climate: tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to February)

Terrain: sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center

Elevation
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Command Ridge 70 m

Natural resources: phosphates, fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 20% (2011 est.)
Forest: 0% (2011 est.)
Other: 80% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: periodic droughts

Geography
Note: world's smallest island country; situated just 53 km south of the Equator; Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia


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Population
Distribution: extensive phosphate mining made approximately 90% of the island unsuitable for farming; most people live in the fertile coastal areas, especially along the southwest coast: 9,692 (July 2018 est.)
Rank: 223
Growth rate: 0.51% (2018 est.)
Growth rate rank: 153
Below poverty line note: NA

Nationality
Noun: Nauruan(s)
Adjective: Nauruan

Ethnic groups: Nauruan 88.9%, part Nauruan 6.6%, I-Kiribati 2%, other 2.5% (2007 est.)

Languages:

Religions: Protestant 60.4% (includes Nauru Congregational 35.7%, Assembly of God 13%, Nauru Independent Church 9.5%, Baptist 1.5%, and Seventh Day Adventist 0.7%), Roman Catholic 33%, other 3.7%, none 1.8%, unspecified 1.1% (2011 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 31.18% (male 1323 /female 1699)
15-24 years: 16.37% (male 764 /female 823)
25-54 years: 43.08% (male 2,112 /female 2,063)
55-64 years: 6.51% (male 249 /female 382)
65 years and over: 2.86% (male 101 /female 176) (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 26.7 years (2018 est.)
Male: 27.4 years
Female: 25.8 years
Rank: 149

Population growth rate: 0.51% (2018 est.)
Rank: 153

Birth rate: 23.2 births/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 62

Death rate: 5.9 deaths/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 168

Net migration rate: -12.3 migrant(s)/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 218

Population distribution: extensive phosphate mining made approximately 90% of the island unsuitable for farming; most people live in the fertile coastal areas, especially along the southwest coast

Urbanization
Urban population: 100% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: -0.06% annual rate of change

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: limited natural freshwater resources, roof storage tanks that collect rainwater and desalination plants provide water; a century of intensive phosphate mining beginning in 1906 left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland; cadmium residue, phosphate dust, and other contaminants have caused air and water pollution with negative impacts on health; climate change has brought on rising sea levels and inland water shortages
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 0.84 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 0.78 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.65 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 7.7 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Male: 9.8 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 5.9 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 156

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 67.8 years (2018 est.)
Male: 63.6 years
Female: 71.2 years
Rank: 170

Total fertility rate: 2.76 children born/woman (2018 est.)
Rank: 62

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source
Urban: 3.5% of population
Total: 3.5% of population (2015 est.)

Current health expenditure: 11.1% (2016)

Physicians density: 1.24 physicians/1000 population (2015)

Hospital bed density: 5 beds/1000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 34.4% of population (2015 est.)
Total: 34.4% of population (2015 est.)

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate note: NA
People living with hivaids note: NA
Deaths note: NA

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 61% (2016)
Rank: 1

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures
Note: NA

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 9 years
Male: 9 years
Female: 10 years (2008)

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
Conventional short form: Nauru
Local long form: Republic of Nauru
Local short form: Nauru
Former: Pleasant Island
Etymology: the island name may derive from the Nauruan word anaoero meaning I go to the beach

Government type: parliamentary republic

Capital
Name: no official capital; government offices in the Yaren District
Time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: 14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baitsi, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren

Dependent areas

Independence: 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday: Independence Day, 31 January (1968)

Constitution
History: effective 29 January 1968
Amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament; amendments to constitutional articles, such as the republican form of government, protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the executive and legislative branches, also requires two-thirds majority of votes in a referendum; amended 1968, 2009, 2014 (2018)

Legal system: mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and customary law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Lionel AINGIMEA (since 27 August 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Lionel AINGIMEA (since 27 August 2019)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of Parliament
Electionsappointments: president indirectly elected by Parliament (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27 August 2019 (next to be held in 2022)
Election results: Lionel AINGIMEA elected president; Parliament vote - Lionel AINGIMEA (independent) 12, David ADEANG (Nauru First) 6

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral parliament (19 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by majority vote using the Dowdall counting system by which voters rank candidates on their ballots; members serve 3-year terms)
Elections: last held on 24 August 2019 (next to be held in 2022)
Election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 19; composition - men 17, women 2, percent of women 10.5%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and several justices); note - in late 2017, the Nauruan Government revoked the 1976 High Court Appeals Act, which had allowed appeals beyond the Nauruan Supreme Court, and in early 2018, the government formed its own appeals court
Judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president to serve until age 65
Subordinate courts: District Court, Family Court

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICCt, IFAD, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, NY 10,017
In the us telephone: [1] (212) 937-0074
In the us FAX: [1] (212) 937-0079
From the us: the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru

Flag description: blue with a narrow, horizontal, gold stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the gold stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru; the star's white color represents phosphate, the basis of the island's wealth

National symbols: frigatebird, calophyllum flower; national colors: blue, yellow, white

National anthem
Name: Nauru Bwiema (Song of Nauru)
Lyricsmusic: Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS: note: adopted 1968

National heritage


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Economy overview: Revenues of this tiny island - a coral atoll with a land area of 21 square kilometers - traditionally have come from exports of phosphates. Few other resources exist, with most necessities being imported, mainly from Australia, its former occupier and later major source of support. Primary reserves of phosphates were exhausted and mining ceased in 2006, but mining of a deeper layer of 'secondary phosphate' in the interior of the island began the following year. The secondary phosphate deposits may last another 30 years. Earnings from Nauru’s export of phosphate remains an important source of income. Few comprehensive statistics on the Nauru economy exist; estimates of Nauru's GDP vary widely.The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. In anticipation of the exhaustion of Nauru's phosphate deposits, substantial amounts of phosphate income were invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition and provide for Nauru's economic future.Although revenue sources for government are limited, the opening of the Australian Regional Processing Center for asylum seekers since 2012 has sparked growth in the economy. Revenue derived from fishing licenses under the 'vessel day scheme' has also boosted government income. Housing, hospitals, and other capital plant are deteriorating. The cost to Australia of keeping the Nauruan government and economy afloat continues to climb.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 224

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 80

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 129

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 98% (2016 est.)
Government consumption: 37.6% (2016 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 42.2% (2016 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 11.2% (2016 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -89.1% (2016 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 6.1% (2009 est.)
Industry: 33% (2009 est.)
Services: 60.8% (2009 est.)

Agriculture products: coconuts

Industries: phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products

Industrial production growth rate
Note: NA

Labor force
Note: most of the labor force is employed in phosphate-mining, public administration, education and transportation

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 193

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line
Note: NA

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: 103 million (2017 est.)
Expenditures: 113.4 million (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -9.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 206

Taxes and other revenues: 90.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Rank: 2

Public debt:
Rank: 71

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 172

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance:
Rank: 64

Exports:
Rank: 194
Partners: Nigeria 38.6%, Japan 16.6%, Australia 15.9%, South Korea 13.7%, NZ 5.7% (2017)
Commodities: phosphates

Imports:
Rank: 219
Commodities: food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery
Partners: Australia 67.5%, Fiji 9.2%, India 8.1%, Singapore 5.4% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $33.3 million (2004 est.)
Rank: 199

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 24 million kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 212
Consumption: 22.32 million kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 212
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 174
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 177
Installed generating capacity: 7,000 kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 211
Generation sources fossil fuels: 86% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 68
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 151
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 188
Generation sources other renewable sources: 14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 63

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 180
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 172
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 173
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 175

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products production rank: 184
Products consumption: 470 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 210
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 186
Products imports: 449 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 206

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 176
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 180
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 158
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 163
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 174

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 76,540 Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 208

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 1900
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (July 2016 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 215
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 9,900
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 87 (July 2016 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 212

Telephone system
General assessment: adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities; geography is a challenge for the islands; there is a need to service the tourism sector and thus the South Pacific Islands economy; mobile technology is booming (2018)
Domestic: fixed-line 14 per 100 and mobile-cellular 87 per 100 (2018)
International: country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Broadcast media: 1 government-owned TV station broadcasting programs from New Zealand sent via satellite or on videotape; 1 government-owned radio station, broadcasting on AM and FM, utilizes Australian and British programs (2019)

Internet
Country code: .nr
Users total: 5,100
Users percent of population: 53.5% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 213

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces: no regular military forces (2019)

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5 (2015)
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 38,858 (2015)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7,793,474
Note: mt-km (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: C2 (2016)

Airports: 1 (2013)
Rank: 230
With paved runways total: 1 (2017)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2017)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 30 km (2002)
Paved: 24 km (2002)
Unpaved: 6 km (2002)
Rank: 211

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Nauru


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs